Weatherproof your home before winter strikes

WITH Michelle BALTAZAR

Editor-in-Chief • Money magazine

Before too long winter will be upon us, and that usually means an increase in the cost of running your home.

Autumn presents a great opportunity to tackle some simple projects before the chill sets in, ensuring you address essential jobs and also protect you from costly repairs.

Check your water heater

Is your hot water system operating well? If you have any concerns, call a plumber to check it out before it fails and you are facing cold showers.

Fill those gaps

Inspecting your home for gaps and cracks that allow draughts to enter is time well spent.

Give windows and doors a thorough wash inside and out, taking care to clean out the seals and locking functions. Replace rubber seals and seal cracks with gap filler to eliminate draughts.

Even simple “snake stoppers”, placed along the bottom of interior doors, are an effective way to make your home more energy efficient.

Mould and mildew

During winter, damp and dark environments can cause mould and mildew to thrive.

Both are harmful to your health and cause significant damage to your home.

Concentrate on bathrooms and wardrobes by going over the areas thoroughly with your choice of bacteria cleaning product or your homemade ecofriendly cleaner.

Moisture-absorbing agents can also help in preventing the growth and spread of mould and mildew.

Cleaning your bathroom exhaust fan is one of the most overlooked areas.

An enormous number of particles can build up on the blades, vents and filters.

Review your laundry

Now is the time to regain control of your laundry. Assessing the areas that are simply dysfunctional, and coming up with a fresh layout, will make your everyday life so much easier.

Storage is the key to a perfectly functioning laundry: make the most of walls and ceiling space by adding shelving or cupboard systems; prioritise access to products by how regularly they are required; set up individual baskets for laundered clothes for each person. Warm up your décor Timber, tiled and polished concrete floors during winter months benefit from the addition of a stylish rug or two.

Not only does the textural feel underfoot add to your creature comforts, but rugs improve your home’s efficiency by insulating your floors.

If your curtains failed to keep the light out on a sunny summer morning, they will certainly fall short in keeping the chill of winter at bay.

Adding an extra layer of lining to your curtains will go a long way to keeping the heat in and the chill out!

Check garden furniture

Assess whether it would be best to clean and pack away your outdoor furniture to ensure longevity of your investment.

At a minimum, outdoor cushions can be packed away so they do not deteriorate.